populism
Common-people appeal
Populism is a political approach that frames issues as the common people versus a corrupt elite.
It can appear across the ideological spectrum—left-wing populists target wealthy corporations and billionaires, while right-wing populists target cultural elites and established institutions.
The term is often used dismissively to suggest demagoguery or oversimplification: His economic proposals were pure populism.
A populist champions ordinary people's interests, or claims to.
Manipulative populist leader
- strongmanPowerful lifter or despot
- charismaMagnetic personal appeal
- firebrandAgitator or burning stick
- tribuneSpeaker's raised platform
champion · figurehead · maverick · savior · hero-worship · oratory · magnetism · appeal
Organizing for action
- rallyGathering for a cause
- grassrootsCommon people as political base
- groundswellGrowing public sentiment
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
surge · wave · momentum · awakening · insurgency · campaign · demonstration · protest
Manipulative political rhetoric
- sloganeeringReliance on pithy phrases
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- scapegoatingUnfairly assigning fault to innocents
- us-vs-themAdversarial group mentality
simplification · soundbite · rally · firebrand · rabble-rousing · inflammatory · persuasion · messaging
Opposing dominant institutions
- elitesPrivileged powerful groups
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- backlashStrong negative reaction
discontent · masses · outsider · grievance · disenfranchised · working-class · forgotten · ordinary
Devotion to one's country
- nativismPreference for native-born citizens
- protectionismShielding local producers
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- majoritarianismRule by greatest number
isolationism · collectivism · authoritarianism · Trumpism · Brexit · anti-globalism
Direct vote on legislation
- plebisciteDirect vote by citizens
- votingFormally registering a choice
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- majorityOver half of total
elections · representation · accountability · civic · participation · legitimacy · consent · enfranchisement
Unequal distribution of resources
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- unfairnessUnjust or biased treatment
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- declineDecrease or refuse
stagnation · dispossession · betrayal · abandonment · joblessness · austerity · globalization · deindustrialization
demagogue
Manipulative populist leader
- strongmanPowerful lifter or despot
- charismaMagnetic personal appeal
- firebrandAgitator or burning stick
tribune · champion · figurehead · maverick · savior · hero-worship · oratory · magnetism · appeal
mobilization
Organizing for action
- rallyGathering for a cause
- grassrootsCommon people as political base
- groundswellGrowing public sentiment
uprising · surge · wave · momentum · awakening · insurgency · campaign · demonstration · protest · activism
demagoguery
Manipulative political rhetoric
- sloganeeringReliance on pithy phrases
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- scapegoatingUnfairly assigning fault to innocents
us-vs-them · simplification · soundbite · rally · firebrand · rabble-rousing · inflammatory · persuasion · messaging · spin
anti-establishment
Opposing dominant institutions
- elitesPrivileged powerful groups
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
backlash · discontent · masses · outsider · grievance · disenfranchised · working-class · forgotten · ordinary · rank-and-file
nationalism
Devotion to one's country
- nativismPreference for native-born citizens
- protectionismShielding local producers
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
majoritarianism · isolationism · collectivism · authoritarianism · Trumpism · Brexit · anti-globalism
referendum
Direct vote on legislation
- plebisciteDirect vote by citizens
- votingFormally registering a choice
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
majority · elections · representation · accountability · civic · participation · legitimacy · consent · enfranchisement · recall
inequality
Unequal distribution of resources
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- unfairnessUnjust or biased treatment
- exploitationSelfish use of others
decline · stagnation · dispossession · betrayal · abandonment · joblessness · austerity · globalization · deindustrialization · cost-of-living
- demagogueryrabble-rousing, fearmongering, fear mongering, scapegoating, pandering
- Eastern EuropePoland, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria
- ismscapitalism, socialism, communism, anarchism, racism
- social movementscivil rights movement, women's liberation, labor movement, feminist movement, suffrage movement
- Italian HistoryRome, Venice, Florence, Naples, Sicily
- political ideologiesconservatism, conservative, anarchism, liberalism, liberal
populismtechnocracy
Governance by technical experts
elitism · meritocracy · credentialism · managerialism · aristocracy
populisminstitutionalism
Emphasis on formal structures
oligarchy · aristocracy · constitutionalism · liberalism · machine politics
populismpluralism
Coexistence of differing views
individualism · cosmopolitanism · liberalism · minority rights · multiculturalism
- populist leaderPolitician courting common people
- populist movementPolitical drive for masses
- populist rhetoricSpeech appealing to ordinary citizens